[Extract]
p Capt Lessley

You will be anxious to know our proceedings in Provincial Congress  I shall inform you as fully as time will permit.

The Congress has sat daily from the first day of this Month; so diligent have we been that have I thought my Self fortunate by an adjournment for two or three Hours after Sitting about five in one Spot  Some times I have not been relieved in Seven & an half² ー I wish I could add an Account of good fruits from so much Industry . . . .

We have ordered the Pilots not to board or bring in any Man of War or Transport Ship, What is to become of Lord Wm C[ampbell] & his Suite?

I argued our conduct would be ungrateful, inhuman & answer no other end but that of Shewing our ill temper ー but the order was confirmed; His Lordship will certainly find a way into this Harbour without the aid of our pilotsー

Qn? whether the Militia Should receive him agreeable to an order from the Lieutt Governor, at his Landing? ー much altercation ensued without conclusion on the point ー but if we agree to a Report now before us in which tis recommended that all the Militia Officers Should resign their Commissions, His Excellency will not have the Honour of Seing our Traind Bands as a first object.ー

A Report that we Should immediately purchase & fit out as a Ship of War the Marie Wilhelmina to mount about 50 Guns in order to keep out any of His Majesties Ships of War (& as Some whispers went to Seize & take the Tamar now in port) & for the better defence of this Harbour & Town was considered the 5th when the debates were apparantly exhausted & the Qn? called for ー two or three Members rose & requested to know the opinion of the Chairman ー I declined Such interposition ー nevertheless a violent advocate rose & dropped such expressions as produced a confused clamour & dialouge Some what Like the inclosed account of it³ ー when that Noise had Subsided in order to gratify the Members who had desired to know my Sentiments as well as to Speak them on so important a point & Shew that I would not be intimidated I did Speak nearly in the words following the dialogue ー the Question was put & passed in the Negative by so great a Majority as all the difference between 11 Yeas & about 180 Nays ー in consequence of that disappointment a long train of Armed Schooners, Fortifications, & the intended Blockade of the Channels into the Harbour, all the effects of Fear & Zeal in a deleriam, was postponed & Laid aside,ー

We had Some days ago prohibited the exportation of Corn & yesterday forbid the further Shipping of Rice ー all that remains in the Province is to be purchased & Stored for the public Service in different quarters of the Country upon a Supposition that no more than 3 or 4 Thousand Barrels are on hand but I am assured there are nearer Ten thousand ー another Scheme of groundless Fears in Some & Interested views in othersー